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Friday, May 30, 2014

Weeding
is most effectively done when the weeds are young and in the
morning on a sunny day. Together, those two tactics will result in the
highest mortality rate. Young weeds are simply easier to kill and all
weeds are easier to kill when the afternoon sun is available to desiccate their
disturbed foliage and roots.

Also, although there seems to be an unending supply, there really
are just so many weed seeds available in the 'weed seed bank' — that
collection of weed seeds lying dormant in your soil, awaiting favorable
conditions to germinate and cause you problems. Weeding while the weeds are
young and have not gone to seed, works to effectively deplete the weed seed
bank and eventually will result in relatively weed-free conditions. But, you
have to be diligent and proactive in order to ever achieve that.

Also known as the Nejiri
Gama Hand Hoe, this low-cost,
lightweight tool becomes an extremely sharp and precise extension of
the user's arm when in use. It is by far our best-selling, small hand tool. It sports a D-shaped, high-carbon steel blade welded
to a steel shank, set in a wooden handle. These are great low-cost tools for
growers to equip their entire farm crew with for detailed in-row
weeding in the field.

This tool was recommended to us by Paul and Alison Wiediger of Au Naturel
Farm in Kentucky. The Wiedigers prefer this European-made tool for detailed
weeding in their hoophouses. The round wire design creates the business end of a
tool that won't cut drip tape but will easily upend young weed seedlings. It
has a narrow end for weeding between closely spaced crops like dense plantings
of baby leaf lettuce, and a wider
end to cover more ground in open areas.

This is also known as the
traditional Korean hand plow and dates back over 5000 years. It has multiple
curves in its forged design that impart strength as well as function. It can be
used to dig, furrow, weed, cover seed, transplant seedlings, and loosen, level,
cultivate, and mound soil.

This short-handled version of the Cobrahead has a tough, sharp steel
blade and comfortable handle that makes fast work of tedious garden chores.
Used to weed, cultivate, make small furrows, and even as a mini trowel for
small transplants.

Pre-emergence
Weed Control

This is a practice that many farmers
swear by, especially for dense, hard-to-weed crops like baby leaf lettuce or
greens. In this method, the bed is prepped for planting a couple of weeks prior
to seeding and weeds are allowed to grow. Just before seeding the grower will
flame the bed, killing any weeds that have started to grow, and then seed into a
so-called 'stale bed.' After that, the crop should come up
nearly weed-free. The labor and fuel costs associated with flaming are usually
far less than the cost to hand weed these dense beds or cull out weeds in
the wash water, so the method pays for itself.

Thanks for reading and best of luck in your own personal
battle against weeds.

Adam Lemieux
Tools & Supplies Product Manager

Learn More

To learn more about Weed Management in Sustainable Agriculture Systems, see the following articles on our website:

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

At last, spring has come back to the northern hemisphere.
Most gardeners spend the better part of a winter leafing through seed catalogs,
planning out their garden row by row, and dreaming of warmer weather. Seed
catalogs are inspirational, but no seed catalog - not even one as comprehensive
as Johnny’s - lists the most important thing that can be grown.

Whether it is remembered or long forgotten, every
gardener had a first garden - their first attempt at planting a seed to harvest
a meal or pick a flower. For some this happens in adolescence or later in life,
but for the lucky, their first garden was during childhood. Once the seeds are
planted, an entire host of emotions are usually felt; at first apprehension,
then impatience, usually followed by excitement, and satisfaction. When the
first seeds begin to germinate and break the soil, an indelible mark is made on
the gardener.

Spring is the time that transplanted crops are sown.
Peppers and tomatoes, perhaps onions, are being sown in trays to await planting
alongside direct-seeded crops like squash and pumpkins. This spring, invite a
child to help with the gardening. Have him or her help plant and transplant,
weed, and harvest the garden. It can be your child, your grandchild, or a
neighbor’s child; the relation is fairly unimportant. The entire process will
teach the child foresight and patience, the satisfaction of a job well done,
the pleasure of success, and unfortunately in some cases, the bitter taste of
defeat. Either way, you’ll be passing on a priceless gift.

This spring, grow a gardener.

-Anthony Stevenson

Anthony joined Johnny's International Sales Department in 2007 and is the Sales Representative forall countriesexcluding the U.S.A and Canada. Every spring he looks forward to starting his own garden — something he has done nearly ever year since childhood.Email: astevenson@johnnyseeds.comToll-Free: 877-564-6697, ext. 5310

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Growing Ideas with Johnny's Selected Seeds

About the blog: Here's what's growing on at Johnny's Selected Seeds! We'll answer your questions, let you know what's happening at the farm, and give you plenty of ideas for growing and gardening.Johnny's Mission: To help families, friends, and communities to feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information, and service.